I first became aware of “Mama Donna”, the urban shaman, when living in Manhattan. She fought for the right to take a team of people to celebrate the full and new moons on a Brooklyn beach. After an initial arrest, the police accepted this rite, at least under her leadership.

Donna Henes has written The Queen of My Self to explain the need for a fourth archetype added to the classic three stages of woman: Maiden, Mother & Crone. As an astrologer, it made immediate sense to me that rather than three phases of life, a woman would go through at least four, to mirror the main phases of the moon. Henes supports the “four” in a literate and colorful way. Following her logic and discovering the many reinforcements to her theory was wonderful fun to read.

Henes lives her life with ritual awareness and has filled this book with ideas for you or your loved ones to celebrate this stage in a woman’s life. Henes is a natural storyteller, and the book is a fascinating mix of memoirs, vignettes about women from all walks of life, ancient herstory, mythology and folklore. The work is full of well-chosen quotes and poems as well as Henes’ humor and unique perspective. There are ideas for rituals, journaling with intention and methods to look for symbolism in your everyday life.

— Pamela Cucinell, Astrologer & Owner of Sunburst Oasis